- Joined
- January 26, 2004
- Messages
- 6,113
- Reaction score
- 24
- City, State
- Mechanicsville, Virginia
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2004 Acura TL
A normal 16-pin Data-Link Connector
OBD-II is on some '95 vehicles and most '96-present vehicles. On Board Diagnostics (OBD) has been around for awhile, but hasn't been mandated in any way til vehicle model year 1996. OBD-II vehicles store codes in their computers and must be retrieved with a scanner or a code-reader. A Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) is made up of 5 digits. Look below:
There are two types of DTC's -- Type A and Type B:
Type A
Emissions related.
Requests illumination of the MIL after one failed driving cycle.
Stores a freeze frame DTC after one failed driving cycle.
Type B
Emissions related.
Sets a Pending Trouble Code after one failed driving cycle.
Clears a Pending Trouble Code after one successful driving cycle.
Turns on the MIL after two consecutive failed driving cycles.
Stores a freeze frame after two consecutive failed driving cycles.
This is by far the best code description layout I've seen for OBD-II systems (PDF File):
East Coast EFI Codes
The following link is to obd-codes.com which shows Fords Manufacturer Specific codes:
Ford Specific Codes
There are four types of codes, Powertrain (P), Body (B), Network (U), and C (Chassis) The most common is Powertrain.